Filling machine and valve therefor



May 5, 1953 L. M GIHON FILLING MACHINE AND VALVE THEREFOR 4 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed May 1, 1948 W m 6 6 M m N w y 5, 1953 M GIHON 2,637,478

FILLING MACHINE AND VALVE THEREFOR Filed May 1, 1348 4 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. lap/4:0 Mumv ATTOE/VE) May 5', 1953 M GIHON 2,537,478

FILLING MACHINE AND VALVE THEREFOR Filed May 1, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN TOR. Zia/map fi/mmv BY W 414A ATTOIA/[Y 5, 1953 L. MCGIHON 2,637,478

FILLING MACHINE AND VALVE THEREFOR Filed May 1, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4IIIIIHIIIIIII VIII/II ATTOE/VI) Patented May 5, 1953 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE 2,637,478 FILLING MACHINE'AND VALVE THEREFOR LeonardMcGihon, Oakland, Calif., assignor to King Sales & Engineering 00., SanFrancisco,

Calif., a corporation of California Application May 1, 1948, Serial No.24,525

Claims.

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a filling machine embodying theinstant invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional plan view of the filling machine taken asindicated by the line 2-2 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the fillingmachine taken as indicated by the line 3-3 in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the valve conprecise limits, so that therequired amount of oil struction similar to Figure 3 showing the valvewill be supplied but no excess amount of this exin its closed andinactive position as in Figpensive ingredient will be used. Also,quantity ure 3.

production requires filling equipment which can Figure 5 is a transversesectional view through operate accurately in large capacity productionthe piston portion of the valve member taken as lines and which is easyto adjust for different indicated by the line 55 in Figure 7.

quantities of fill in accordance with the size of Figure 6 is atransverse sectional View through can in which the fish is being packed.the valve member and the valve body taken as v Accordingly, it is ageneral object of the presindicated by the line 6-6 in Figure 8.

cut invention to provide an improved filling ma- Figure '7 is a verticalsectional view through chine having a valve for discharging measured thevalve member taken as indicated by the line quantities of the liquidmaterial and capable of operating at a high production rate.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved filling valveof the foregoing type which is of simple construction and not likely torequire servicing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a filling valve whichcan be easily adapted to vary the quantity of liquid measured thereby sothat a'substantial micrometer-type adjustment of the measured amount canbe made.

' Still another object of the invention is to provide an improvedfilling valve of the above type whichcan readily be converted to filldifferent measured quantities in accordance with the size of can beingused in the packing operation.

' Another object of the invention is to provide a filling valveconstruction which can be easily installed in and removed from themachine.

A further object of theinvention is to provide a filling valve which isadaptable either to fill measured amounts or to fill to a desired headspace in the can.

Still another object of the invention is to providea filling valve whichattains the foregoing objects and which can be employed in vacuumfilling operations.

e Other objects and advantages of the invention willbe apparent from thefollowing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, asillustrated which:

inythe accompanylngdrawings, in

'l l in Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a sectional view of a filling valve similar to the sectionthereof shown in Figure 3 but illustrating the valve position forvacuumizing of the can and its contents.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 with the valve shown aspositioned to dispense the measured quantity of liquid into the can.

Figure 10 is a horizontal sectional view of the portion of the fillingmachine taken as indicated by the line Ill-l 0 in Figure 3.

Figure 11 is a sectional plan view of the valve mounting plate taken asindicated by the line Il-l I in Figure 8.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional view of the filling valve showingits adaptation for use in filling to a desired head space.

Referring to Figure 1, there is illustrated a filling machine embodyingthe instant invention (Figures 1, 2 and 3) including a base or framecasting ID on Which a rotary top or table II is mounted in aconventional manner by means including a central hub 12 journalled abouta center post IS. The table l l carries a plurality of substantiallyrectangular upright bosses M on each of which there is adjustablymounted a can lifter it of conventional construction. The lifter I6 issupported by a pair of shafts I! (Figure 3) which are slidable in a boss18 in a guide ring IS. The ring I9 is carried by means including aspider frame 2! supported on the'main drivegear 22 which isdriventhrough a gear box '23 from a suitable source of power. The liftershafts I! carry a roller 24 engaged with a cam tracl; 25 suitablysupported on the main casting [0. The above parts are of generallyconventional construction so it is believed that no further detaileddescription is required.

The upper end of the hub l2 (Figure 3) is threaded to provide a supportscrew 22a on which the split hub 26 of a bowl 2? is adjustably clampedto determine the height of the bowl with respect to the base. The bowl2? is formed of suitable sheet metal such as stainless steel and has itsinner periphery clamped between a clamping ring 28 and the bottom fiange29 of a center casting 3| of the bowl. The main bottom plate 32 of thebowl has its inner periphery clamped between the ring 29 and the upperflange 26a. of the hub 23.

A series of filling valves 36 are secured to the bowl 2'! respectivelyin alignment with the corresponding series of lift plates I6 and aredescribed later in detail. For feeding cans in cooperative relation withthe lift plates I6 and the filling valves 36, a conventional feedmechanism is provided including a pair of conveyor chains 31, a feedscrew 38 and a star wheel 39, all of conventional construction.Cooperating with the star wheel 39 is an arcuate guide rail 4| forguiding cans about the wheel and onto the lift plates 16. A shortarcuate guide rail 42 is provided at the discharge of the star wheel sothat cans transferred onto the lift plates [6 are guided into enagementwith the U-shaped centering brackets I612 thereon. Correspondingly,after the cans have been filled, a conventional discharge means isprovided including a wiper arm 44 and an opposed guide rail 46 mountedabove a rotary discharge disk 41. It will be understood, of course, thatthe feed mechanism is driven in synchronism with the table and the liftplates by a conventional drive indicated generally at 48 in Figures 1and 2.

Referring to the filling valve, as illustrated in Figures 3 to 8, thevalve is made up of a cylinder structure including the variouscooperating parts later described which operate together to define thetotal volume of the measuring chamber and a piston structure whichoperates within the cylinder structure to control the operation of thevalve in so far as the opening and closing thereof the ring 52, the bowl21, its bottom plate 32 and threaded into the valve body 5|. The body 5|has a lower tubular extension 5lb about which a sleeve 53 is slidablymounted. The sleeve 53 is urged downwardly by a spring 54 so that thelower or valve seat end of the sleeve 53 engages the valve portion 56aof a valve member 56.

Above the valve portion 56a, the valve member 56 (Figure 4) has aportion of reduced diameter 562) which is spaced from the innerperiphery of the tubular extension 5lb of the valve body to provide ameasuring chamber portion 51. Above the portion 56b of reduced diameter,the valve member 56 is provided with a piston portion 560 preferablylap-fitted within the valve body. Above the piston portion 560, thevalve member 56 has an upper reduced portion 56d immediately below anupper portion 56c of slightly larger diameter to provide a seattherebetween. This seat is engaged with a support strip 58 which isrecessed to slide over the reduced portion 56d and engage below theportion 56c. A spring 59 is compressed between the strip 58 and a collar6| on the portion 56c to provide a lifting force for the valve member 56during operation of the valve. This lifting force is overcome normallyby the spring 54. The two legs of the strip 58 seat against a stop ring62 having a tapered aperture therein providing communication from thetank to the valve. This ring 62 is adjustable to change the valve from ameasuring valve to a head space type valve as later described.

In mounting the valve on the tank, the valve body is first secured inplace, then the spring 54 is compressed and the valve member 56 ispassed through the valve body and the stop ring 62. The spring 59 isthen compressed so that the stop plate 58 can be slid sideways intoposition with respect to the valve member 56.

To enable change in the volume of the measuring chamber 51, a pair ofhalf-sleeves 63 are clamped about the portion 56b of the valve member bya conventional split-type clamping ring 64.

At the lower end of the valve 36 and adjustably threaded onto the valvesleeve 53, there is provided a lift collar 66 secured in place by alocknut 67 and having mounted therein a rubber seal ring 68 in theconventional manner.

The valve member 56 (Figures 4 to 7) is provided with a lower centralpassageway H extending from the recessed portion 12 at the lower endthereof to within the piston portion 560 thereof and communicating witha laterally extending passageway Ha (Figures 4 and 6) for communicationwith an annular recess 13 in the valve body 5| in one adjusted ositionof the valve member. The recess 13 communicates with a radial passage 14which is adapted to communicate by means later described with a sourceof vacuum and with atmospheric pressure or air under pressure during theoperation of the filling valve, all as later described. The pistonportion 560 of the valve member 56 is provided adjacent its peripherywith four vertical passages 15 which extend throughout the length of thepiston portion to communicate with the chamber 51, both below and abovethe piston portion 560. Also, two vertical passages 16 are providedwhich are closed at the top (Figure '7) by suitable plugs. Thesevertically extending passages 16 are in turn connected with a transversepassage 11 which intersects an upper central passage 18 in the valvemember 56. The passages 15, 16, 11 and 18 all form part of the measuringchamber 51.

The measuring chamber preferably also includes a detachable andtelescopically adjustable chamber member 19 (Figures 3 and 4) by meansof which the capacity of the measuring chamber can be adjusted easilywithout removing any parts and with liquid in the tank. The chambermember includes a cylindrical body 19a which is internally threaded toengage over a threaded base 192) carried on the valve member by means ofa lower threaded extension. The base 19b is preferably locked to thevalve member by a set screw indicated in dotted lines in Figure 4. Atube is threaded into the upper end of the chamber body 19a and extendsup above the liquid level in the tank and is employed in adjusting thebody 19a. The upper end of the tube I9: is covered by a cap 8| (Figures4 and 8) whose bottom peripheral flange extends over and shields atransverse aperture 82 of the tube which provides for communication ofthe measuring chamber with the atmosphere at all times.

It will be seen that the plate 62 extends radially inwardly over thecentral bore in the valve body 5| and lies overthe passage I5 so that inthe uppermost position of the valve member shown in Figure 9 the tank isshut-off from the valve as will. be more clearly explained in connectionwith the operation of the valve. In Order to provide for amicrometer-alike adjustment of the volume of the measuring. chamber,the. level of liquid indicated at 86 in Figure 3 is under the control ofa float 81 and a valve 98 which is float controlled in a conventionalmanner and communicates through the pipe 89 with the source of liquidfor the tank. Byadjusting the operative levelor height of the float 81in controlling the valve 88, the level of liquid in the tank can becontrolled .accurately. Correspondingly, the extent to which liquid willrise in the tube I9 can be accurately controlled, and thereby a slightadjustment of the level of liquid in the tank causes a correspondingadjustment ofthe volume of liquid in the measurin chamber.

In order to control vacuumizing of the .cans before filling, the radialpassage 14 (Figure 3) of each valve body is connected by a tube 9| witha radial passage 92 in the flange 26a of the bowl hub 26. Each passage92 communicates with a passage 93 extendin upwardly through the flange26a, the bottom wall 32, the clamping ring 28 and the flange 29 and atube 94 seated at its upper end in the top flange 96 of the centercasting of the bowl 3|. Thus, the flange 96 presents a series ofannularly spaced apertures at its upper surface, each aperturecommunicating with the associated valve. This upper surface of theflange 96 is ground to receive the correspondingly machined lowersurface of a vacuum cap IOI (Figures 3 and 11) provided with respectivefragmentary annular recesses I (I2 and I93 in the lower surface thereof.The recess I02 connects through radial passages I94 in the cap IOI witha central passage I 66 connected through a fitting II with a suitablesource of vacuum. The passage I63 communicates through a fit-. ting I08with atmospheric pressure or with a source of air under pressure as maybe desired. The cap I III is carried by a slotted collar I99 havingsliding engagement with an upright shaft III carried on the center postI3 by a clamping plate. I I2. Thus, the cap is maintained relativelystationary with respect to the ported flange 96 so that as the aperturestherein rotate with the tank and with the valves, the passage systemleading to the lower central aperture II of each valve will be subjectedto the source of vacuum for a selected portion of each cycle of travelthereof and subsequently to atmospheric pressure or to a source of airunder pressure for a selected period.

Operation As will be understood from the foregoing description, thevalve operates in conjunction with the filling machine, as the machinerotates, under the control of the successive levels of the lift cam 25which determines the different periods that the valve is conditioned forits successive stages of operation. The lift cam 25 has four successivelevels a, b, c and d, only the first three of which are seen inFigure 1. The fourth level, (1, is indicated schematically in Figure 2.When the can lift member or plate I6 is posi-v tioned under control ofthe cam portion a, the

valve is closed as shown in Figure 3, and is open to the tank to receiveits charge of material.

When the plate I6 is lifted by the cam portion b, as shown in Figures 6and 8, and a cam ls interposed between the can lift plate I6 and theseal ring 68, the valve sleeve 53, together with its lift collar 66, arelifted against the pressure of the spring 54. The valve member 56 islifted also by the spring 59 so thatthe annular radial passage IIacommunicates with the'annular recess 13 (Figure 8) and the can and itscontents are subjected to vacuum for a selected period of time indicatedat b in Figure 2. It will be noted that the lifting of the valve mem-'her from the position shown in Figure 4 to that shown in Figure 8results in a discharge 'or return of some of the material within themeasuring chamber back into the tank. In other words, as shown in Figure4, the measuring chamber is filled to capacity and the excess materialis subsequently returned to the tank during the two lifting movements ofthe valve member.

When the lift plate I6 (Figure 9) is controlled by the highest portion 0of the cam track, i. e., during the portion 0 of its travel as indicatedin Figure 2, the valve member 56 is lifted from the position shown inFigure 8 to that shown in Figure 9 when its radial passage Ila is out ofcommunication with the, annular recess I3 so that the source of vacuumis shut off. Also the upper end of the piston portion 560 engages theshut-off ring 62 so that the passages 15 are closed at the top and thevalve chamber is closed off from the tank. Also, valve sleeve 53 islifted away from the valve portion 56a so that the liquid in themeasuring chamber can run into the can. Subsequently, the lift plate I6is again loweredby the cam track portion d not shown) which is at thesame height as portion a and extends for about 30 of travel as indicatedat d in Figure 2. During this time, the valve is again closed and thecan is in communication with atmospheric pressure through the slot I03.

It will be understood that the measured charge discharged into the canis made up of thema teri'al contained in the chamber or chamber pertion51, the passages I5, "I6 and I8, and the aux-. iliary chamber member I9,so that the exact volume of the measured charge is controlled in part.by the liquid level within the tank .21. By adjusting this level undercontrol of the float..8l a micrometer-like adjustment of the amount offill can be obtained. Major adjustment of the valve to affect the.volume of the measured charge can be made by removing or changing thesize of the detachably mounted inserts 63 within the chamber 51 or byadjusting the bulb member 'I9(Figure 3) or by varying its size.

To change the valve from filling a measuredquantity to filling toadesired head space, inassembly of the valve on the machine, the shutoff plate or ring 62 is inverted or reversed in its mounting so that thetapered construction of its central recess has its largest diameterdownwards as shown in Figure 12. In this p0 sition of the ring, evenwith the valve in liftedposition, there is always communication betweenthe tank and the can during the filling cycle., The amount of head spacewithin the can is adjusted in the usual fashion with the adjustment ofthe collar 65, Figure 8 on the valve sleeve 53 so that the valve sleeve53 and the valve portion 56a will project into the can to the extentrequired for the desired head space.

In this adapted condition of the valve, the com munication of each canwith atmospheric pressure under control of cam portion (1 is used tobreak any vacuumin the can. When filling with heavier materials, airunder pressure is employed in the place of atmospheric pressure to cleanout the vacuum lines during travel of a valve under control of the camportion d.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of theinvention, it will be apparent that the invention is capable of furthe;-variation and modification and its scope should be limited only by thescope of the claims appended hereto I claim:

1. In a filling machine, a substantially vertical cylinder structurenormally open for admission of liquid at its upper end and comprising anupper-stationary part and lower movable part telescopically engagedtherewith, said movable part having a valve seat at its lower end,spring means urgingcsaid movable part downwardly, a valve and pistonstructure movably mounted within said cylinder structure for selectivepositioning in'relative adjusted positions thereof and having a valveengaged'by said valve seat under the urgency of said spring means,passage means in one of said structures for conducting fluid past saidvalve and piston structure in one relatively adjusted position of saidstructures in I which said valve is engaged with said seat, saidstructures having cooperating surfaces operative to close said passagemeans in a second relatively adjusted position of said structures inwhich said valve and said valve seat remain closed,

said structures having respective other passage means therein anddisposed in cooperative relation in a third relatively adjusted positionof said structures to place a container engaged with said movable partin communication with a source of vacuum, said valve seat part beingmovable from said second position to separate from said valve.

2. In afilling machine having a tank with means for maintaining aconstant level of liquid therein, a cylinder structure communicating atits upper end with the tank and having a valve seat at its lower end, avalve and piston structure mounted in said cylinder structure formovement between relatively adjusted positions thereof and past saidvalve and piston structure into said chamber portion in one relativelyadjusted position of said structures in which said valve is engaged withsaid seat, and said structures having cooperating surfaces operative toclose said passage means in another relatively adjusted position of saidstructures, and other passage means in said valve and piston structureleading from below said surfaces to above the level of liquid in thetank, said other passage means including an adjustable chamber memberwithin said tank and below the level of liquid therein and a tubeextending upwardly from said chamber member and terminating above thelevel of said liquid.

3. In a filling machine having a tank with means for maintaining aconstant level of liquid therein, a cylinder structure communicating atits upper end with the tank and having a valve seat at its lower end, avalve and piston structure mounted in said cylinder structure formovement between relatively adjusted positions thereof and defining achamber portion therewith and'havins a valve at its lower end forcooperation with said valve seat, passage means in one of saidstructures for conducting fluid from the tank past said valve and pistonstructure into said chamber portion in one relatively adjusted positionof said structures in which said valve is engaged with said seat, andsaid structures having cooperating surfaces operative to close saidpassage means in another relatively adjusted position 01said'structures, and other passage means in said valve and pistonstructure leading from below said surfaces to above the level of liquidin the tank, said other passage means including an adjustable chambermember within said tank and below the level of liquid therein.

4. In a filling machine, a substantially vertical cylinder structurenormally open for admission of liquid at its upper end and comprising anupper stationary part and lower movable parts telescopically engagedtherewith, said movable part having a valve seat at its lower end,spring means urging said movable part downwardly, a valve and pistonstructure movably mounted within said cylinder structure for selectivepositloning in relatively adjusted positions thereof and having a valveengaged by said valve seat under the urgency of said spring means,passage means in one of said structures for conducting fluid past saidvalve and piston structure in the lowermost position of said pistonstructure with respect to said cylinder structure in which said valve isengaged with said seat, said cylinder structures having an annularsurface operative to close said passage means in the uppermost positionof said piston structure with respect to said cylinder structure, saidstructures having respective vacuum passage means therein and disposedin communication with each other in an intermediate position of saidpiston structure with respect to said cylinder structure to place acontainer engaged with said movable part in communication with a sourceof vacuum, said valve seat art being movable to separate from said valvewith said piston structure in its uppermostposition with respect to saidcylinder struc ture.

5. In a filling machine,'a substantially vertical cylinder structurenormally open for admission of liquid at its upper end and comprising anupper stationary part and lower movable part telescopically engagedtherewith, said movable part having a valve seat at its lower end,spring means urging said movable part downwardly, a valve and pistonstructure movably mounted Within said cylinder structure for selectivepositioning in relatively adjusted positions thereof and having a valveengaged by said valve seat under the urgency of said spring means, saidvalve and piston structure including a piston portion engaged withinsaid upper cylinder part and having respective annular end surfaces,passage means extending between said end surfaces of said piston portionfor conducting fluid past said valve and piston structure in thelowermost position of said piston structure with respect to saidcylinder structure in which said valve is engaged with said seat, saidcylinder structures having an annular surface operative to close saidpassage means in the uppermost position of said piston structure withrespect to said cylinder structure, said structures having respectivevacuum passage means therein and disposed in communication with'eachother in an intermediate position of said piston structure with respectto said cylinder structure to place a container engaged with saidmovable part in communication with a source of vacuum, said valve seatpart being movable to separate from said valve with said pistonstructure in its uppermost position with respect to said cylinderstructure.

LEONARD McGIHON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NameDate Beardsley Nov. 28, 1893 Number Number Number

